Story By: Maja Mishevksa, Sub Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash

This Chilean man trapped in Wuhan amid the coronavirus outbreak has spoken of his desperation to get away from the ghost city.

According to local media, 29-year-old civil engineer student Carlos Perret is one of five Chilean nationals living in the beset city of Wuhan in the eastern Chinese province of Hubei.

With the city shutdown amid the outbreak of coronavirus, Perret explained that he has been stuck in his 16th-floor apartment for days.

Before confining himself indoors, he walked through the streets of Wuhan for supplies and took images of the ghost city which is reportedly home to over 11 million citizens.

Perret, who comes from the Chilean city of Concepcion, is studying a master’s degree at the Wuhan University of Technology, but is desperate to leave the quarantined city.

He said: “Chinese people are trying to respect the recommendation that no one goes out onto the streets.”

“It is a lie that they [Chilean government] are in constant communication with us. It’s actually been days without any information.”

Chilean minister Jaime Manalich said: “They do not have any chance of coming back yet as they are in quarantine and the Chinese authorities are what they are.

“We respect what the authorities determine is best for China and with this in mind, we will wait until the quarantine period is over for those citizens, whether Chinese or Chilean, as stated by the authorities.”

Perret said that the Chinese authorities should allow someone to leave if they have spent 14 days at home and, according to international sources, around 700 people of different nationalities have returned to their country since the emergency started.

He added: “If I have to choose where I want to be during this period, I’d obviously prefer to be in my own country, or go to another city far away from here. I do not think anybody wants to stay here.”

Perret also claimed that a group of Mexican friends was taken to Shanghai by train where they were isolated for 14 days before being allowed to fly to Mexico.

Despite his predicament, Perret said that he is in a good state of mind and remains secure in his flat near the university.

The ViralTab page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.